Waste criminals should be in no doubt, the Government is coming for you - Yorkshire Post Letters

Jayne Dowle’s opinion article ('Fly-tipping scourge is just growing worse,' June 8) highlights a problem that rightly outrages communities. This is why we are acting. We have launched the first Waste Crime Action Plan to tackle fly-tipping at every stage – and we are making progress.

We have introduced legislation meaning tougher requirements on waste operators and mandatory background checks, with five years in jail for those breaking the law.

We are also introducing digital waste tracking, replacing outdated paper-based processes. This will give near real-time visibility of where waste is produced, moved and disposed of – making it far easier to identify and act against the criminals.

The Environment Agency, backed by £45m of new government funding, is shutting down illegal sites, revoking permits and disrupting criminal activity faster and earlier.

This includes ordering the clean-up of an illegal waste site in Bradford, securing the sentence of a Yorkshire man for allowing waste to be dumped on his land, and arresting a man for dumping waste at the Bolton House Road in Wigan.

We also work closely with local authorities to tackle waste crime. Last year, councils in Yorkshire and Humber issued 1,300 fines, clawed back over £90,000 through the courts and seized 20 vans suspected of dumping waste.

There is more to do, but the direction is clear: stronger regulation, better intelligence and tougher action.

Waste criminals should be in no doubt – we are coming for you.